{"id":32173,"date":"2022-09-10T15:59:18","date_gmt":"2022-09-10T20:59:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/10-ways-to-re-engage-group-dropouts\/"},"modified":"2022-09-10T15:59:18","modified_gmt":"2022-09-10T20:59:18","slug":"10-ways-to-re-engage-group-dropouts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/10-ways-to-re-engage-group-dropouts\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Ways to Re-engage Group Dropouts"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Tyler Lastovich photo – Pexels<\/div>\n

By Ken Braddy<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cAbsent Without Leave,\u201d or \u201cAWOL\u201d for short, is a serious offense if you\u2019re in the military. It\u2019s a term used to describe someone who is a member of a group, but drops out of sight and leaves their post unattended.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also a serious infraction if you\u2019re a member of a Bible study group! I\u2019ve taught an ongoing Bible study for over seven years now, and I\u2019ve had my fair share of people who went AWOL. Some were absent for a few weeks but returned.<\/p>\n

Others dropped out for longer periods of time. As a group leader, you can\u2019t always control who\u2019s in your group each week. But you do<\/em> have control over what you do about the group members who drop out.<\/p>\n

In a typical group, about 45 to 50 percent of group members will be absent any time the group meets (this is especially true in a Sunday school ministry). So if you have 20 people on your group ministry roster, you can be confident that around 10 of them will be absent the next time the group meets.<\/p>\n

This leaves group leaders in a slight quandary: What should you do about the dropouts between group meetings? The tendency may be to say, \u201cWell, they know where and when we meet. They\u2019ll show back up.\u201d<\/p>\n

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But is that the best approach? Here are ten ideas for re-engaging people who become group dropouts.<\/p>\n

1. Pray for them.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

This is an important first step in helping dropouts reconnect with your group. As a group leader, you should pray for the AWOL people in your group. But you can lead your group members to pray for them as well.<\/p>\n

Consider focusing the group\u2019s prayer efforts on one or two people, or one or two couples each week. This will raise the group\u2019s awareness that people are absent and need to be cared for.<\/p>\n

2. Visit them.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Yes, home visitation is on the decline today, but that doesn\u2019t mean you shouldn\u2019t occasionally get in your car and stop by the group dropout\u2019s home for a quick \u201cporch visit.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dropping off your group\u2019s Bible study materials to the absentee can remind them about your group and their need to belong to it. If nothing else, a heartfelt \u201cWe sure miss you in Bible study\u201d can melt the ice and help a person or a couple feel better about reconnecting to the group after a prolonged absence.<\/p>\n

It also helps them get over those awkward feelings if they\u2019ve simply ducked out of church because they are tired, allowed kids\u2019 sports to interfere with Sunday worship and Bible study, or some other reason.<\/p>\n

3. Invite them to a party.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

People who\u2019ve been absent for a long time feel awkward about showing back up suddenly. Everyone likes a party, though, so plan a fellowship and reach out to every group dropout.<\/p>\n

It will be easier for them to reconnect with the group at a party away from the church. Help them take baby steps toward regular attendance.<\/p>\n

4. Encourage them.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Because email is so prevalent today, why not try something a little old fashioned? A handwritten note is a nice, personal touch in an overly electronic world. Tell the group dropout they are missed, and that your Bible study group isn\u2019t the same without them.<\/p>\n

Remind them they contribute in significant ways when they\u2019re present. Ask if they need ministry from the group. Keep things positive. Don\u2019t chastise them for being gone.<\/p>\n

5. Understand them.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

It\u2019s easy to judge someone and label them as \u201cnon-committed\u201d or a \u201cslacker.\u201d But resist hanging a label around their neck.<\/p>\n

Instead, get to know their situation. They may be under significant stress at work, they could be traveling to care for an aging parent on the weekends, or some other significant reason that explains their absence.<\/p>\n

In those cases, your group now has opportunities to minister to the absentee and to serve them.<\/p>\n

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See also  8 Ways to Persevere in Ministry<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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6. Call them.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

I believe it\u2019s better to call\u2014not email or text\u2014any long-term group dropouts. You may have to start the conversation with something like, \u201cI\u2019ve not done a great job keeping up with you\u201d or \u201cForgive me for not calling sooner.\u201d<\/p>\n

This transfers the responsibility to you, and doesn\u2019t make the absentee feel put upon. Let them know you care, want to pray for them, and desire them to come back to your group.<\/p>\n

7. Downsize the group.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

I\u2019m not a big fan of large groups for making disciples. Jesus\u2019 ministry was primarily to a group of 12 disciples, and an inner group of 3 disciples.<\/p>\n

The larger the group, the harder it is for the group leader to act like a teacher-shepherd and care for all of the group dropouts. A smaller group will be easier to lead, and it will certainly be easier to follow up with a few dropouts than trying to care for many group dropouts.<\/p>\n

8. Organize the group.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

One of the best practices a group can have is to divide the members among several care group Leaders. Each care group leader is responsible for reaching out every week to any dropout under their watch care.<\/p>\n

In doing so, care group leaders share the load of ministry with the group\u2019s leader, allowing him or her to focus on studying and guiding the group\u2019s Bible study.<\/p>\n

9. Take advantage of natural \u201con ramps.\u201d <\/strong><\/h3>\n

If your group has dropouts, there will be times of the year that provide natural and easy ways to get them to re-engage with your group. Some are related to timing: It\u2019s easier to invite people to re-engage at the first of the year, the beginning of summer, and the start of the school year.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also easier to invite a person to re-engage when the group begins a new Bible study. A quick message like, \u201cHey, we miss you, and want you to know we\u2019re starting a new study next week\u201d gives the absentee a good reason to jump back in and re-engage with the group.<\/p>\n

10. Don\u2019t give up on them.<\/strong><\/h3>\n

This is perhaps the most important one. Don\u2019t just focus your attention on the \u201c99 sheep\u201d you have. Jesus told a parable in which the owner of sheep left 99 of them in search of 1 lost sheep.<\/p>\n

The parable demonstrated the value of people to the Lord, and the extreme measures He went to in order to provide salvation for them. Those AWOL members of your group are precious to the Lord \u2013 He died for them \u2013 and it grieves the Holy Spirit when people choose to disconnect from the church.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t write off the group dropout, and certainly don\u2019t remove them from your group\u2019s ministry list.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re going to lead a Bible study group, you\u2019re going to have dropouts. Commit to not only prepare your group\u2019s Bible study experience, prayer, and fellowship experiences, but also to have a strategy for quickly and effectively reaching out to those who drop out of group life.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll come to learn, as I have, that the quicker you reach out to an absentee, the easier it is. When people go AWOL, don\u2019t leave them in that state. Just a little encouragement can help them re-engage with you and your group members.<\/p>\n

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Ken Braddy<\/h2>\n

@KenBraddy<\/p>\n

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Ken is the\u00a0director of Sunday School\u00a0for Lifeway, a church groups practitioner, and author of several books, including Breathing Life Into Sunday School<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n